Like Texans, Falcons taking it slow with return of offensive star

Summary of 5 articles · Updated Aug 15, 2014

The Falcons do not practice Friday. He needs to bounce back against the Falcons. The Falcons said from the start he would be ready for the regular-season opener against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 7. Poor play by the Falcons offensive line was a huge … (more)part of their going from 13-3 and the NFC title game to 4-12 – Matt Ryan took a beating – but coach Mike Smith blamed himself for not doing “a good job of developing the young players. He thinks Bill O’Brien has the personal skill set and strong enough assistant coaches to turn things back in the right direction quickly in Houston, just as he did in Atlanta after inheriting a 4-12 team.

Five Texans to watch vs. Falcons

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick One good thing about being a 10-year veteran is being able to put an awful performance behind you. Fitzpatrick was 6-of-14 for 55 yards and two interceptions with a 14.6 rating against Arizona. That’s not indicative of the k…

Falcons’ Mike Smith sees bounce back year for his team and Texans

Texans head coach Bill O’Brien, left, talks to Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith on Thursday. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle) Atlanta coach Mike Smith could relate as well as anyone to what the Texans went through last season — together the two tea…

Julio Jones expects to play on Saturday

Earlier this month, Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones said that he was OK not playing in the preseason and suggested that he might see action in the third week if the team brass decided that was the best course of action. Things may have speeded up in A…